46. Exposed

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The next day, the sun rose high.

On the main road west of Flower Capital, the bandit suppression army returned in triumph. Although the casualties were heavy, it was undoubtedly a great victory compared to the results, and everyone in the team proudly puffed out their chests.

"The bandit suppression team is back?"

The people of Flower Capital heard the news and flocked to the streets. When they saw the burly corpse tied to the gallows, they couldn't help but gasp for air.

Even from a distance, one could tell how powerful the opponent was!

"That's the legendary Shutenmaru!"

"Just like the rumors say, he's a giant monster!"

"Well done, samurai!"

"You're amazing!"

The crowd discussed animatedly, and soon it turned into a thunderous cheer.

Although they were often oppressed by samurai, thieves were even more terrifying. Comparatively, they were more afraid of thieves who killed and plundered, especially a monster who had roamed Kuri for decades.

Even twenty years ago, when the Kozuki clan ruled this country, those cruel and greedy thieves should not have existed in this world.

"Haha, how enthusiastic!"

"Brothers, straighten your backs!"

"Damn it, this is the first time in my life I've been so glorious!"

When had the samurai who suppressed the bandits ever received such treatment? For a moment, their hearts surged. In the past, it was good if the common people didn't curse them a few times, but now they were cheering along the streets.

What a feeling of vindication!

They also had families in Flower Capital and wanted to show their heroic and mighty side to their families.

And all this glory was due to that Daichi.

The samurai looked at the burly man at the forefront of the team, their eyes filled with respect and admiration.

Soon, the bandit suppression team arrived below Orochi Castle.

Shogun Orochi appeared in a hurry, and when he saw the victorious bandit suppression army and Shutenmaru's corpse, he rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

"Did they really kill Shutenmaru?"

Was he dreaming?

According to the schedule, the bandit suppression team departed yesterday noon, arrived at Mt. Atama in the evening, killed Shutenmaru at night, and returned the next morning.

It was less than a day in total!

His long-standing major concern, which had troubled him for more than ten years, was gone just like that?

Daichi stepped forward and came before Shogun Orochi.

"Shogun, long time no see!"

"...."

Long time?

Is he speaking human language?

He hadn't even woken up just now. His subordinates had to wake him up!

Damn it, why didn't Daikoku kill this guy!

Shogun Orochi felt stifled in his heart.

Although killing Shutenmaru made him feel very comfortable, Daichi not dying made him extremely displeased. The feeling of being both happy and unhappy was quite contradictory.

Daichi stepped aside, pointing to Shutenmaru's corpse behind him, and the bandit corpses piled high on the carriages.

A smile bloomed on his face.

"Shogun, look, as you commanded, I brought back the entire Mt. Atama Bandit Group for you. Isn't it a surprise?"

"Surprise, it's truly a surprise!"

Shogun Orochi echoed with a stiff smile.

Daichi chuckled, deliberately lowering his voice, and said, "Shogun, don't rush, there's an even bigger surprise coming."

"Another surprise?"

Shogun Orochi was startled.

Besides this guy dying, what could be more surprising than killing Shutenmaru?

Unbelievable!

"Gufufufufu!"

Shogun Orochi forced a laugh.

"Daichi, you really impress me. Today, I must drink to my heart's content with you!"

"Fukurokuju, hurry and prepare! Invite all the ministers. I want to hold a grand celebration banquet for Daichi!"

"Also, inform the entire country of the destruction of Shutenmaru's gang, so that all the people can share this huge surprise with me!"

In less than half a day, thanks to the amazing efficiency of Den Den Mushi and arrow-delivered messages, the news of the Mt. Atama Bandit Group's destruction quickly spread throughout the villages. Some rejoiced, while others sighed.

A grand banquet was also held in Orochi Castle.

In the largest banquet hall, all the prominent figures of Wano Country were present, toasting Daichi one by one.

"Daichi is truly a warrior!"

"They were just a bunch of petty thieves."

Daichi drank with a smile.

When he had drunk enough, Daichi pretended to be drunk and went to the side hall to rest, slowly sipping tea.

Soon, Daikoku arrived.

"Daichi, are you looking for me?"

"Sit."

Daichi pointed to the seat opposite.

Daikoku sat down cross-legged, looking deeply at Daichi. If he could, he didn't want to be alone with Daichi at all.

Failing to assassinate the opponent had already displeased Shogun Orochi. Now that they were alone, if it were misinterpreted by someone with bad intentions, he might be suspected of working with the enemy.

"Have some tea."

Daichi poured Daikoku a cup of tea, then asked, "Daikoku, I want to know about the mysterious swordsman from last night."

"Ushimitsu Kozo?"

Daikoku frowned.

The information about Ushimitsu Kozo wasn't a big secret, mainly because the Oniwabanshu didn't know much about him either.

"Yes, him."

Killing intent flashed in Daichi's eyes.

"That guy almost rescued Shutenmaru. If I don't bring him to justice, I won't be able to swallow this!"

"Understood, Daichi."

Daikoku nodded and told him all the information about Ushimitsu Kozo.

Daichi looked surprised.

"So, he's a righteous thief?"

"Yes."

Admiration appeared in Daikoku's eyes.

In this terrible world, it was admirable for a samurai to persist in upholding justice. At least he couldn't do it.

"How interesting!"

Daichi showed a playful smile.

"A righteous thief who robs the rich to help the poor, traveling all the way from Flower Capital to Mt. Atama to rescue a notorious, utterly evil villain."

"Daikoku, do you think that's reasonable?"

"Unreasonable."

Daikoku frowned tightly.

This was also the most puzzling part for him.

Daichi stroked his chin, beginning to solve the mystery.

"Ushimitsu Kozo risking his life to save a villain is clearly unreasonable. It obviously goes against his beliefs."

"Unless the two have known each other for a long time and have a very close relationship!"

"Daikoku, what do you think?"

Daikoku nodded in agreement.

He had also thought of this point, but only one night had passed, and there wasn't much time to ponder the matter, so he hadn't sorted out his thoughts yet.

Daichi continued to guide him.

"Normally, it's impossible for a righteous thief and a bandit to be friends. They are naturally at odds. Therefore, there must be another connection between the two, such as blood!"

"Daichi, those two can't be related by blood."

Daikoku shook his head and said in a deep voice, "The Oniwabanshu knows Shutenmaru very well. Shutenmaru definitely has no living relatives."

"Good, eliminate a wrong answer."

Daichi nodded.

"Not blood, which means there are other factors connecting them. I remember Shutenmaru was once known as Ashura Doji, and he broke away from his bandit identity during a special period."

"He was a retainer of Kozuki Oden!"

"Only during that period could he have formed a strong friendship with a virtuous righteous thief."

Daikoku's pupils contracted, and he said in horror, "Do you mean, Daichi, that Ushimitsu Kozo is a retainer of Kozuki Oden?"

"I'm just guessing."

Daichi said lightly, "If both of them were Kozuki Oden's retainers, then Ushimitsu Kozo indeed has a reason to save Shutenmaru. Besides that, I can't think of any other possibility."

"This..."

Daikoku's face turned pale, and cold sweat dripped down his cheeks.

There is indeed this possibility!

Fifteen years ago, on the day Kozuki Oden was subjected to the "Boiling Punishment," he was also present and participated in the subsequent pursuit.

Oden's nine retainers scattered and fled, several of them returning to Oden Castle and disappearing in the raging fire, while several others vanished without a trace.

Could it be that they have returned?!

Daichi put down his teacup, his gaze cold.

"Daikoku, you should know that for us, the Kozuki clan must disappear. We must never give them a chance to make a comeback!"

"Yes!"

Daikoku took a deep breath.

If the Kozuki clan were still around, they would surely seek revenge on them.

Daichi said coldly, "Daikoku, last night you personally witnessed Ushimitsu Kozo's strength. There are only a handful of samurai in the entire Wano Country with such power!"

"Indeed."

Daikoku's gaze was serious.

Such a powerful slash last night could not have been wielded by an ordinary swordsman, especially since swords are now forbidden in Wano Country, and the number of samurai has sharply decreased.

He also realized that Daichi's conversation with him was not just to win him over, but had a deeper meaning.

Daichi took out a few strands of blue hair.

"Last night, Yamato knocked off Ushimitsu Kozo's headscarf. These are the hairs he dropped, and I specifically collected them. This is a very important clue."

"Blue hair?"

Daikoku looked at the strands of hair on the table, and after a few seconds of being stunned, a figure suddenly appeared in his mind.

Blue hair is rare enough, and blue-haired samurai with great strength are even rarer, but there just happens to be such a samurai in Flower Capital!

Kyoshiro!

He is currently in the banquet hall drinking with Shogun Orochi!

"This is impossible!"

Daikoku abruptly stood up, his face filled with horror.

Everyone in this country knows that Kyoshiro is Shogun Orochi's most loyal dog, having done all sorts of evil deeds for Shogun Orochi over the years. How could he be Oden's retainer!

"Daikoku, there's nothing absolutely impossible in this world."

Daichi dipped his finger in some tea and then drew a pattern on the tea table, like a bird spreading its wings.

Daikoku looked at the pattern on the table, and his heart trembled again.

It was the Kozuki clan crest.

"I heard that the Kozuki clan's retainers would engrave the Kozuki crest on their backs to show their loyalty to Kozuki, right?"

"That's right!"

Daikoku understood Daichi's meaning.

Whether Kyoshiro was a remnant of the Kozuki clan, he just needed to verify if there was a Kozuki clan crest on his back.

Wait!

Daikoku suddenly realized something, and his eyes towards Daichi were filled with horror.

Could it be that he already knew Kyoshiro's true identity?

Yesterday evening, Daichi specifically asked him to send a message back to Flower Capital, reporting the good news of heavily injuring Shutenmaru, and after finding the bandit hideout, he delayed the attack until late at night, the hour of the ox.

Given Kyoshiro's status, he would surely receive the news immediately and would just be able to arrive at Kuri's Mt. Atama before the third quarter of the hour of the ox.

Everything became clear!

Thinking about it now, this man's true purpose was to use Shutenmaru as bait to lure Kyoshiro out.

He wanted to get rid of Kyoshiro!

No, what this man truly wanted to get rid of was Shogun Orochi!

Daikoku broke out in a cold sweat, his back soaked.

Kyoshiro was Shogun Orochi's most trusted right-hand man and his strongest samurai. If Kyoshiro were lost, Shogun Orochi's power would be severely crippled.

The problem is, if Kyoshiro truly is a retainer of Kozuki Oden, he must be eliminated, no matter the cost.

No one can tolerate the sharpest blade hanging over their head!

"Daichi—"

"Shh! Quiet!"

Daichi made a shushing gesture and whispered, "Daikoku, you must be fully prepared when dealing with enemies, and never give them the slightest chance to escape. If you let a tiger return to the mountains, it's very likely that you and I will die in the future!"

"Understood, Daichi!"

Daikoku replied in a low voice.

He knew what to do.

As for the conflict between the two leaders, he was just an ordinary ninja, with no ability or qualifications to get involved.

"I'm tired, I want to sleep for a bit."

Daichi stretched, then lay down diagonally, waving his hand to dismiss him, "Go, remember to tell the Shogun that if needed, I will certainly lend a hand."

"Daichi, I will convey that."

Daikoku turned to leave, and suddenly a sentence came from behind him.

"The captain of the Oniwabanshu seems to be named Fukurokuju, tsk tsk, his name is really hard to pronounce, can't he change it to something simpler?"

Hint, naked hint!

Daikoku decisively quickened his pace.

He felt that if he stayed here, his iron will would be bent. That man's ability to bewitch people was too terrifying.

"Bang!"

The door closed tightly.

"He ran really fast."

Daichi glanced at the door, shook his head, and turned over.

He had originally thought it would take some time to reach the current situation, but Shogun Orochi's order to suppress the bandits accelerated the process.

Now only the final surprise attack remained.

Counting the time, they should be here!

Half an hour later.

"Puru-puru-puru~ puru-puru-puru~"

The sound of a Den Den Mushi calling came from his arms.

The phone is ringing.

Daichi groggily pulled out the snail.

"Moshi Moshi?"

"Daichi, news has come from the Kuri Waterfall that an illegal pirate ship has entered the country. Judging by the flag on the ship, it's most likely the Spade Pirates, who are currently gaining popularity!"

In the afternoon, the Spade Pirates entered Wano Country via the Kuri Waterfall and defeated the Beast Pirates on duty.

A smile appeared in Daichi's eyes.

"Good, immediately send people to search for the Spade Pirates' whereabouts."

"Yes!"

The connection was cut.

Kuri, Amigasa Village.

"A pirate ship has been washed ashore!"

"Quick, catch them!"

"Steal all the food!"

The starving villagers rushed towards the pirate ship, shouting, tied up all the pirates, and then cheered as they shared food and water.

They devoured it hungrily, as if they were starving ghosts reincarnated.

Under a tree, the Spade Pirates were tied together, watching the villagers taking food, without showing any anger.

The crew members whispered.

"Captain Ace?"

"Let them finish eating."

Ace shook his head slightly.

Looking at the villagers' ragged clothes, one could tell they were poor people who didn't have enough to eat. He was quite happy to be able to help them.

When the villagers had eaten their fill, the ropes on Ace's wrists ignited with flames, and his subordinates also used various methods to untie their ropes.

This scene terrified the villagers.

However, Ace had no intention of retaliating against them. Instead, he smiled and asked, "Where can I find some dessert after dinner? It's most enjoyable to have some dessert after filling your stomach!"

"Eh?"

The villagers were stunned.

This pirate, he seems to be a strange person!